Sponsored message
Logged in as
Audience-funded nonprofit news
radio tower icon laist logo
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
Subscribe
  • Listen Now Playing Listen

This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.

This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.

News

Cost Of Westwood Village Parking Spots Will Now Fluctuate With Demand

westwood_village_street.jpg
Westwood Village (Photo by Patricksmercy via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr)

One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.


Those looking to park in Westwood Village will now be able to find spaces via a mobile app, and the price of those spaces will be based on supply and demand. The L.A. Department of Transportation rolled out its LA Express Park program in Westwood Village yesterday, according to Curbed LA. This program relies on an app called ParkMe, which figures out available spots and their prices for drivers. You can also use the LA Express Park website to find this info.

The 500 spots included in this program have sensors that can tell whether or not someone is already parked there. Drivers can use this information to find available spots. Spots cost less when demand is low and more when demand is high. Being able to see exactly what spots are available and if they're in your price range should mean drivers are spending less time circling around in an aimless quest for parking. You can see a map of the Westwood Village spots here.

LA Express Parking is also in effect in downtown Los Angeles. Peer Ghent, the project manager of LA Express Park, told KCET in August of last year that the program seemed to be working to make things easier for Angelenos while earning the City money. Though, other variables may also be involved.

"It's difficult without a control group to say what would have been if we hadn't changed prices," he said. "What I do know is that our revenue has gone up by 2.5% and the average price has gone down at about 11% of spaces."

Here's an explainer video LA Express Park released when the program launched in downtown L.A.:

One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.

You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.

If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief

Make your tax-deductible donation today